For the approximately 175 million people who suffer from arthritis worldwide, simple daily tasks can be painful and difficult. From opening a jar to standing for long periods of time, the pressure and strain on aching joints can make going about the day a trial. This pain can even make people give up the activities they love. Fortunately, there are many different assistive devices for arthritis that can help make tasks and activities less painful and easier. Here are ten of the most useful assistive devices for arthritis.
1. Button hook
No need to give up button-down shirts with this handy little gadget. A tapered end slides through the buttonhole to grab the button and pull it through. This can be especially helpful first thing in the morning when fingers are stiff and uncooperative.
2. Doorknob grips
If you are in a house with round doorknobs instead of lever handle doorknobs, simply getting out of your room can be a challenge. These slip-on doorknob grips are an affordable assistive device for arthritis without having to change all of the doorknobs in your house.
3. Can, bottle, and jar openers
One of the biggest struggles of the day may be opening jars, bottles, and cans. These assistive devices vary between mounted and hand-held models that can open the most stubborn containers.
4. Cooking and eating utensils
Especially for foodies, arthritis can make time in the kitchen an exercise in misery. These knives, cutting boards, and utensils feature wider or more ergonomically-designed handles for ease of use. The non-slip cutting boards make cutting and chopping safer.
Avid cooks may also want to consider purchasing a cushioned mat to stand on. Long periods of standing can exacerbate arthritis pain in the feet, knees, hips, and back. These can also be used for any activity that involves long periods of standing, such as painting.
5. Sitting, standing, and walking aids
Mobility can be extremely impacted for those with arthritis in the lower extremities. Simply standing up from a seated position can be difficult. These assistive devices are designed to help people with arthritis move easily around their house.
One of the traps of arthritis is that because movement is painful, many people move less. This decrease in movement leads to stiffer joints, which leads to more pain. By providing a simple assistive device to make moving around the house easier, movement is promoted and pain may decrease.
6. Assistive devices for driving
Many without arthritis take driving and all of the accompanying actions for granted. Opening the door, buckling a seatbelt, turning the car on: all of these can be ver